Railway crossing



E. N. STROM AND A. E. BLOMSTRAND.

RAILWAY CROSSING.

APPLICATION FILED 0Ec.3,1921.

1,406,909, Patented Fb.14, 1922.

4. SHEETS-SHEET1- jag @728 .flfjZTam 2; .%e 51257027213 Zrand,

E. N. S'TROM AND A. E. BLOMSTRAND.

RAILWAY CROSSING.

APPLICATION FILED DEC= 3, 1921.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. N. STROM AND A. E. BLOMSTRAND.

RAILWAY CROSSING.

APPLICATION FlLED DEC. 3, 1921.

1,406,909. Patented Feb. 14, 1922;

4 SHtETS-SHEET 3.

E. N. STROIVI AND A. E. BLOMSTRAND.

RAILWAY CROSSING.

APPLECATION FILED DEC-3.1921.

1,406,999, Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- Arr rricE- EUGENE N. STROM AND AXEL E. BLOMSTRAND, OFCHICAGQ, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO IETIIBGNE MULLIKEN C OMPANY, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, CORPORATIQN OF RAILWAY oaossme.

Application filed December 3, 1921.

posed rail-engaging portions of the crossing from their outer endstoward the flangegroove intersections of the crossing. Where theconditions are such that the rails to be assembled with the crossing maybe inserted to position therein by lengthwise movement of the rails intothe recesses provided in the crossing for their reception, theguard-portions of the crossing do not present any obstruction to suchinsertion, but where the conditions are such that the rails must beconnected with the crossing by movement of the rails vertically, as, forexam le, where two crossings are located relative y closely together andsingle length rails connect such crossings, whlch occurs at double-trackcrossings, the crossings must be so constructed that the guard-portionswill not prevent obstruction to thus assembling the rails with thecrossing.

Furthermore, it is recognized in practice that, to minimize danger ofthe wheels jumping the crossing, provision should be made for guardingthe flanges of both wheels of each set thereof throughout such portionsof the crossing, that both wheels will be guarded at the intersection ofthe flange-grooves of the crossing.

One of our primary objects is to provide a novel, simple and relativelyinexpensive construction of crossing which will ermit of the readyassembly therewith, an withdrawing therefrom, of the rail -sections bmovement thereof vertically, and which wi l Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922. Serial No. 519,655.

wheels, to insure the guarding of othwheels of a set thereof at the timeofpassng over the intersection of flange-grooves 1n the crossing, areafforded.

It may be further stated in connection wlth the foregoing objects, that,particularly because of the character .of metal requlred to be used,railway crossing structures are expensive to manufacture. It istherefore very desirable that the crossings be of such construction thatthe amount of metal required to be used in their production will be theminimum, it being ossible by utilizing our invention to accomp ish thispurpose in the attainment of our objects, certain of which are thosestated above.

Referring to the accompanying draw- 1ngs- Figure 1 is a plan view of arailway-crossing constructed in accordance with our invention, showingrails connectedtherewith. Figure 2 is an enlarged broken plan view ofone of the corner portions of the crossing of Fig. 1, showing the railscooperating therewith, this being a view of the corner of the crossingat the lower left-hand portion of the crossing in Fig. 1. Figure 3 is asection taken at the line 3 on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of thearrow. Figure 4 is a section taken at the line 4.% on

Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a' view likeFig. 4 with the filler block, rail and bolts omitted, and 7representing, by dotted lines, one of the positions assumed by the railin either the assembling thereof with the crossing or the disassemblingof the rail therefrom. Figure 6 is a View like Fig. 2. and of the.

parts of the structure therein shown, representing these parts inseparated, yet related,

positions, the bolts being omitted. Figure 7 is a view like Fig. 2 ofanother corner portion of the crossing of Fig. 1, the portion shownbeing the corner of the structure at the lower right-hand side of Fig.1,

with a portion omitted. Figure 8 is a plan view of a combined filler andguard-rail portion forming apart of the structure shown in Fig. 7.Figure 9 is a plan view of a filler-block which cooperates with themember shown in Fig. 8; and Flg. 10, a section taken at the line 10 onFig. 7 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

We have chosen to illustrate our invention as embodied in a crossingwherein the flange-grooves intersect, at such an angle that ourimprovement, as regards the guardrail extension feature, is applicable,in addition to the provision of means, in accordance with. ourinvention, for adaptlng of the insertion and withdrawal of the rails byvertical movement, but without intendlng therebv to limit our invention.

The particular illustrated construction of crossing comprises two hollowcast sections 11, two hollow cast sections 12 and four angular cornerpieces comprising two similar sections 13 and two similar sections 14.The sections 11 and 12 are of the same construction but of differentshape to correspond with the angularity of the flangegrooves to beprovided in the crossing, and the sections 13 and 14 are also of thesame construction but of different shape to correspond with saidangularity of the flangegrooves. Each section 11 and 12 is formed as astraight hollow rail-section 15 and containing a longitudinalwheel-flange-groove l6 and having oblique faces 17 at their ends, andguard-rail sections 18 extend outwardly correspondingly on the oppositeends of each rail-section 15 and contain wheel-flange grooves 19. Theportions of the sections affording the guard-rail sections referred toare provided with outwardly projecting extensions 20 which are offset asshown relative to the portions of the guard-rail sections 18 with whichthe wheel-flanges engage, and thereby cause the outer ends of thesections 11 and 12 to present the recesses 21. To construct a crossingwith the four sections 11 and 12, these are assembled by bringing theoblique ends 17 thereof into meeting contact one with another, therebyproducing a crossing of rhomboid form, as illustrated in Fig. 1, becauseof the inclination of these ends as shown in this figure, it beingunderstood that where the crossing is to be of square form the ends 17would extend at an angle of 45 to the median line of the sections 11 and12, respectively, or if of rhombus shape, other than that shown, theangles at which the ends 17 extend would be correspondingly varied.

The resultant formation referred to causes the grooves 16 and 19 to bein proper align ment. With the parts assembled 'as described, angularbraces 22, conformin to the inner corners of the crossing, are tted intothem between thev heads and-flanges, and against the webs, of adjacentrail-sections 15, and the assembled parts are bolted together, as by thebolts 22. Into the acute angular space formed between each of twoadjacent guard-rail sections 18 fits a correspondingly shaped cornerpiece 13 and into the other angular spaces, which are of obtuse form,fit the correspondingly shaped cornerpieces 14.

The inner surfaces of the outer ends of the corner pieces 13 and 14 arerecessed as represented at 23, these surfaces being so shaped, as shownmore clearly in Fig. 5, as to conformingly fit the opposing surfaces ofrails represented at 24, of the track for which the crossing isprovided, applied laterally to position against these corner pieces toextend into the recesses 23, in which position the inner edges of theheads of the rails are in alignment with the portions 25 of the cornerpieces 13 and 14, and forming rail sections. Cooperating with the sidesof therails 24, opposite those sides engaging the corner pleces 13, arehollow filler blocks 26 which are preferably of wedgeshape as shown inFig. 6, these blocks which fit into the recesses 21, adjacent the cornerpieces 13, being so shaped, each at one lateral surface, as toconformingly fit portions of the adjacent under sides of the heads ofthe rails 24 and portions of the upper surfaces of the adjacent railflanges, and at bosses 27 thereon, the adjacent sides of the rail-websand portions of the under sides of the rail-heads and the upper surfacesof the rail flanges, as shown in Fig. 4. The filler surfaces as to causethem to form continuations of the guard-rail portions 18 of thesectionsll and 12, adjacent the corner pieces 13, in the particularillustrated embodiment of our invention the outwardly flaring portionsof these guard-rail portions and a straight portion thereof, theard-rail portions of the filler blocks 26, belng represented at 28, theport-ions 20 of the sections 11 and 12 being provided with inwardlyprojecting flanges 29 which are overlapped by the filler blocks 26 whenthe latter are assembled with the other parts of the structurehereinafter explained.

Cooperating with the sides ofthe rails 24, opposite the sides thereofwhich engage the corner pieces 14, are hollow filler blocks 30 which arepreferably of wedge shape as shown in Fig. 8. these blocks which fitwithin certain of the recesses 21, being eachshaped at the lateralsurface thereof which opposes the rail 24, as explained of the fillerblocks 26. The upper portions of the filler blocks 30 are so shaped asto form, throughout a portion only of their length, straightcontinuations 31 of the guard-rail portions 18 of the sections 11 and 12ad' acent the corner sections 14, the outer en o'rtions of the blocks 30being of reduce height and so shaped as to conformingly fit the adjacentside surfaces of guard-rail sections 32, the outer ends of which flareoutwardly as represented, these sections 32 forming continuations of theguard portions 31. Additional filler blocks, represented at 33, shown asof wedge shape and containing in their upper surface grooves 34, fitbetween the flaring portions of the guard-rail sections 32 and theadjacent rails 24.-

In the assembling of the rails 24 with the crossing the rails arelowered through vertical planes into the spaces provided between theouter ends of the corner pieces 13 20 and 14 and inthe outer ends of thesections 11 and 12, the filler blocks 26 and 30 not being in place, andthe spaces just, referred to being referably wider than the flanges ofthe ralls 24, and the rails then shifted laterally to cause the flangesat one side thereof to extend into the position as shown in lines inFig. 4, as to the rail therein shown, the dotted representation in Fig.5 showin a position assumed by the rail as it is being lowerel toseating position. The filler blocks 26 and 30 are then inserted endwiseinto the recesses 21 and against the adjacent faces of the rails 24 tothe position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 7 and 10 and the Parts thusassembled secured together by bolts represented at 35 and 36, the bolts35 passing through openings in the ends of the corner pieces 13 and 14and the guard-railforming portions of the sections 11 and 12, and thebolts 36 passing through openings in the ends of the corner pieces 13and 14,

the extensions 20 of the sections 11 and 12,

' the webs of the rails 24 and the filler blocks 26 and 30,respectively. The guard-rails 32 are then positioned against the sidesof the filler blocks 30 at the outer ends of the latter and the fillers33 applied to position, and these parts secured together by bolts 37 and38, the bolts 37 passing through openings in the guard-rails 32, theouter ends of the blocks 30 and the webs of the adjacent rails 24, andthe bolts 38 passing through only\ of metal to be used and the minimumnumber of fastening devices, Furthermore, this feature of the invention,when used in combination with the guard-rails 32, permits of themanufacturing of the crossing with relatively short ends extendingbeyond the flange-groove intersections, thereby minimizing expense,where the angle at which the flange-grooves intersect is such thatextended guard surfaces are necessary to insure the proper guarding ofthe .wheels before either strikes a groove intersection. In thisconnection, it may be stated that in practice the crossings wouldprobably be made with the ends thereof extending beyond theflange-groove intersections of such length that in those cases where thegrooves intersect each other at less than a-60 angle, the extended guardsurfaces referred to, and formed in the construction shown by theportions 31 and 32, would be required to be used, though it is not ourintention to limit our invention to this particular condition.

It will be observed that when it is desired to disassemble any-one ormore of the rails 24 from the crossing, the crossing proper is not inany way disturbed, it being necessa only that the bolts 36 and thefiller blocks 26 be removed and where the extended guard surfaces 32 areprovided the bolts 37 and 38 and filler blocks 33 also removed. Withthese parts removed, the rails 24 may belifted vertically from theirposition within the confines of the railway crossing proper, and newrails substituted, as hereinbefore described, this feature of theinvention being of particular value where two crossings extendrelatively closely to each other and are connected together by singlerail sections, the conditions presented preventing shifting of the railslengthwise in the assembly thereof with the crossing proper.

It will also be noted that by our improvements the engagement of thelateral surfaces of the ends of the corner pieces 13 and 14 and thelateral surfaces of the filler blocks 26 and 30, with the-opposite sidesof the rails 24, is over relatively large areas of the rails producingbroad bearing surfaces and serving very effectually to resist stressesin operation.

Where the flange-grooves of the crossing intersect each other at anangle of 90, or at such a lesser angle as above suggested, more than 60,a filler block 26 would'be provided for each rail, such extended guardrail portions not being necessary under such conditions.

While we have illustrated and described a particular constructionembodying our invention, we do not wish to be understood as intending tolimit it thereto, as the same may be variously modified and alteredwithout departing from the spirit of our invention.

adjacent a side of the rail and presenting a guard-rail portion spacedfrom the head of the rail, and means securing said parts to gether.

2. A railway crossing provided at a corner thereof with a portionextending outwardly beyond the flange-groove-intersection of thecrossing and presenting a groove along its upper surface extendinglengthwise of said portion and affording a track section and aguard-rail section, said portion being recessed to receive an end of arail for alignment with said track section, a removable and replaceablefiller block in said recess extending adjacent a side of the rail andpresenting a guard-rail portion spaced from the head of the rail andaligning with said guard-rail section, and means securing said partstogether.

3. A railway crossing provided at a corner thereof with .a portionextending outwardly beyond the flange-groove-intersection of thecrossing, said portion being recessed to receive an end of a rail, aremovable and replaceable wedge-shaped filler block in said recessextending adjacent a side of the rail and presenting a guard-railportion spaced from the head of the rail, and means securing said partstogether.

4. A railway crossing provided at a corner thereof with a portionextending outwardly beyond the flange-groove-intersection of thecrossing and presenting .a groove along its upper surface extendinglengthwise of said portion and affording a track section and aguard-rail section, said portion being recessed to receive an end of arail for alignment with said track section, a removable and replaceablewedge-shaped filler block in said recess extending adjacent a side ofthe rail and presenting a guard-rail portion spaced from the head of therail and aligning with said guard-rail section, and means securing saidparts together.

5. A railway crossing provided at a corner thereof with a portionextending outwardly beyond the fiange-groove-intersection of thecrossing and presenting a groove along its upper surface extendinglengthwise of said portion and affording a track section and aguard-rail section, said portion being recessed to receive an end of arail for alignment with said track section, a removable and replaceablefiller block in said recess extending adjacent a side of the rail andpresenting an outwardly flaring guard-rail portion spaced from the .head

wardly beyond the flange-groove-intersec- 4 tion of the crossing andpresenting a groove along its upper surface extending lengthwise of saidportion and affording a' track section and a guard-rail section, saidportion being recessed to receive an end of a rail for alignment withsaid track section, a removable and replaceable wedge-shaped fillerblock in said recess extending adjacent a side of the rail andpresenting an outwardly flaring guard-rail head of the rail and aligningat one end with said guard-rail section, and means securing said partstogether. A

7. railway crossing comprising a structure presentlng rail sectionsarranged in intersecting relation and having portions which extendoutwardly beyond the tracksection-intersections'of said structure at thecorners of the latter, members located in the angles at the corners ofthe structure formed by the outwardly-extending portions thereof, thestructure presenting recesses at the corners of the structure betweensaid portions and members to receive the ends of rails,

removable and replaceable filler blocks located in said recessesadjacent sides of said rails and presenting guard-rail portions, spacedfrom the heads of the rails, and means for securing said parts together.

8. A railway crossing comprising a struc ture presenting rail sectionsarranged in intersecting relation and having portions which extendoutwardly beyond the tracksection-intersections of said structure, atthe corners of the latter, members located in the angles at the cornersof the structure formed by the outwardl extending portions thereof, saidoutwar 1y extending portions presenting guard-rail sections and saidmembers presenting track-sections aligning with the track-sections ofsaid structure, the outer ends of said members being recessed to receivethe ends of rails for alignment with the track-sections of said members,and the outwardly extending portions of said structure being recessed,and removable and replaceable filler blocks insertable into the recessesin said outwardly extending portions to extend adjacent the sides of therails and presenting guard-rail portions spaced from the heads ofadjacent rails and aligning with said guard-rail sections, and meanssecuring said parts together.

9. A! railway crossing provided at a corner thereof with a portionextending outwardly beyond the flan e-groove-intersection of thecrossing, said portion being formed of sections extending side by sideand presenting a recessed portion to reportion spaced from the ceive anend of a rail, a removable and replaceable filler block located in saidrecess and extending adjacent a side of the rail and presenting aguard-rail portion spaced from the head of the rail, and means securingsaid parts together.

10. A railway crossing provided at a corner thereof with a portionextending outwardly beyond the flange-groove-lntersection of thecrossing and presenting a groove along its upper surface extendinglengthwise of said portion and aifordin a tracksection and a guard-railsection, said portion being formed of sections extending side by sideand each being recessed, one to receive an end of a rail for alignmentwith said track-section, a removable and replaceable filler blocklocated in the recessed portion of the other of said sections andextending adjacent a side of the rail and presenting a guard-railportion spaced from the head of the rail and aligning with saldguard-rail section, and means securing said parts to gether.

11. A railway crossin provided at a corner thereof with a portionextending outwardly beyond the fl'ange-groove-intersection of thecrossing and presenting a groove along its upper surface extendinglengthwise of said portion and affording a track section and a uard-railsection, said portion being recesse to receive an end of a rail foraligning with said track-section, and a removable and replaceable fillerblock located in said recess to extend adjacent a side of the rail, andmeans securing said parts together, said recess adapting said rail-endto be inserted thereinto and withdrawn by vertical as distinguished fromlongitudinal movement thereof, the assembly affording verticallyuninterrupted contact with each other of the rails head, web and flangeat one side of the rail and the adjacent surface of the filler-block,and of said parts on the opposite side of the rail and said portion.

12. A railway crossing provided at a corner thereof with a portionextending outwardly beyond the fiange-groove-intersection of thecrossing, said portion being recessed to receive an end of a rail, aremovable and replaceable filler block in said recess extending adjacenta side of the rail and presenting a guard-rail portion spaced from thehead of the rail, said block having an extension at its outer end, aguard-rail applied to said extension, and means securing said partstogether.

13. A railway crossing provided at a corner thereof with a portionextending outwardly beyond the flange-groove-intersection of thecrossing and presenting a groove along its upper surface extendinglengthwise of said portion and afi'ording a track section and aguard-rail section, said portion being recessed to receive an end of arail for alignment with said track section, a

removable and replaceable filler block in said recess extending adjacenta side of the rail and presenting a guard-rail portion spaced from thehead of the rail and alignmg with said guard-rail section, said blockhaving an extension at its outer end, a guard-rail applied to saidextension, and means securing said parts together.

14. A railway crossing provided at a corner thereof with a portionextending outwardly beyond the flange-groove-intersection of thecrossing, said portion being recessed to recelve an end of a rail, aremovable and replaceable wedge-shaped filler block in said recessextending adjacent a side of the rail and presenting a uard-rail portionspaced from the head of t e rail, said block having an extension at itsouter end, a guard-rail applied to said extension, and means securingsaid parts together.

15. A railway crossing provided at a corner thereof with a portionextending outwardly beyond the flange-groove-intersection of thecrossing and presenting a groove along its upper surface extendinglengthwise of said portion and affording a track section and aguard-rail section, said portion being recessed to receive an end of arail for alignment with said track section, a removable and replaceablewedge-shaped filler block in said recess extending adjacent a side ofthe rail and presenting a guard-rail portion spaced from the head of therail and aligning with said guard-rail section, said block having anextension at its outer end, a guardrail applied to said extension, andmeans securing said parts together.

16. A railway crossing provided at a corner thereof with a' portionextending outwardly beyond the flange-groove-intersection of thecrossing, said ortion being recessed to receive an end of a rail, aremovable and replaceable filler block in said recess extending adjacenta side'of the rail and presenting a guard-rail portion spaced from thehead of the rail, said block having an extension at its outer end, aguard-rail applied to-said extension, a filler block interposed betweensaid guard-rail and said rail, and means securing said parts together.

17 A railway crossing provided at a corner thereof with a portionextending outwardly beyond the flange-groove-intersection of thecrossing and presenting a groove along its upper surface extendinglengthwise of said portion and affording a track section and aguard-rail section, said portion being recessed to receive an end of arail for alignment with said track section, a removable and replaceablefiller block in said recess extending adjacent a side of the rail andpresenting a ard-rail ortion spaced from the head of t e rail andguard-rail section, said block having an exaligning with said tension atits outer end, :1 guard-rail applied 19. A, filler block formedalong itsupper to said extension, av filler block interposed surface with aguard-rail forming portion between said guard-rail and said rail, andonly on one side thereof and having an in- 10 means securing said partstogether. clined guard-surface. v

18. A filler block formed along its upper surface with aguard-rail-forming portion EUGENE N. STROM.

only on one side thereof. AXEL E. BLOMSTRAND.

